Venetian blind.



A. O. MALMGRBN & H. KLEPPMAN.

VENETIAN BLIND.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. s, 1913.

' Patented May 26, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. 0. MALMGRBN a H. KLEFPMAN.

VENBTIAN BLIND. APPLIOATION FILED um@ 1913.

19697, 12, I Patented May 26, 1914.

2 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

ARTHUR O. MALMGREN AND HENRY KLEFFMAN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VENETIAN BLIND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1914.

Application led `August 5, 1913. Serial N o. 783,075.

To all 'whom/t may concern.'

Be it knownthat we, ARTHUR O. MALM- GREN and HENRY KLEEFMAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State 'of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Venetian Blinds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of window blinds known as Venetian blinds, and its object is to provide novel and improved means for adjusting the blind slats, this object being attained by means of a combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that the invention may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings inwhichl Figure 1 is a front elevation of the blind; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of one end of the top portion of the blind; Fig. 4 is an elevation of one of the blind supporting brackets; Fig. 5 is an elevation of the mechanism for jlocking the blind slats; Fig. 6 is an elevation showing the locking mechanism in another position; Fig. 7 is an inverted plan view of a fragment of the top slat of the blind showing the means for locking the raising and lowering cord of the blind.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 10 denotes the slats of the blind. Tapes 11 run down on both sides of the blind and are fastened to the longitudinal edges of the slats. The tapes are flexible so that the slats may be gathered and bunched in superposed rel tion and carried upward, if the blind is to e raised. The slats are held spaced between the tapes by cross tapes 12 extending between the-front and rear tapes 11, between vvhich cross tapesthe slats are loosely held. The top Slat 13 of the blind, as well as the bottom slat 14, are heavier than the\ remaining slats, and the former has trunnions 15 and 16, respectively, projecting from its ends. f

The .blind is hung from a stationary rail or other support 17 which is suitably secured to the top of the Window casing. The rail carries outstanding brackets 18 and 19, respectively. The bracket 18 has a curved slot 20 in its top edge forming a slot for the trunnion 15, and the bracket 19 has a pvot opening in which the trunnion 16 is journaled.K A pivotal support for the top slat 13 of the blind is thus provided, which is for the purpose of tilting said slat and the remaining slats to allow the passage of more or less air and light. The slats all tilt toether by reason of the connections 11 therebetween.

The following means -are provided for tilting the slats: Back of the top Slat 13, and outstanding from the bracket 19, is a stud 21 on which is pivoted, at one of its ends, a pawl 22 having at its'opposite or free end va downturned portion 23 which overhangs the trunnion 16 and acts as a weight and also as a stop against the trunnion. Intermediate the ends of the pawl, the bottom edge thereof has a series of teeth 24 which are adapted to engage a pin 25 projecting from a plate 26 secured to that end of the slat 13 which carries the trunnion 16. The last-mentioned end of the slat 13 is spaced a sufficient distance from the bracket 19 to accommodate the pawl 22 and the parts coperating therewith. On the side of the pawl, remote from the end of the slat 13, is pivoted at 27, a

prop device 28, thefree end of which latter is adapted to engage a pin 29 projectinginward from the bracket 19 toward the slat 13.

`When the blind slats are in horizontal pof sition the maximum amount of light and air can pass therebetween. In this position of the slats, the pin 25s'eats in the foremost one of the teeth 24 and adjacent tothe inclined edgev 30 formed by the party23 of the pawl 22. If it is desired to close the slats more or less, a pull' on a cord 31 fastened to the top slat 13 tilts" the latter, downward toward the front, thereby causing the pin 25 tol slide downward `alongthe incline 30. It is to be noted that the teeth of the pawl are arranged in a straight line and the incline 30 is perpendicular thereto, these arrangements having the important functions of checking sudden downward movement of the front edge of the slot 13 which might cause the pawl to throw back out of operative` position or, by sudden lifting of the pawl, permit the prop to swing' so far forward as to lie in front of the pin 29. This causes the pawl to swingupward, whereupon the prop 28 swings downward and its free end engages the pin 29, thereby holding the pawl in elevated position. The prop normally rests against the pin, so that when the pawl is elevated as described, the bottom edge of the prop engages'the pin. The cord 31 is now released, whereupon the top slat tilts downward toward the rear. The trunnions of the top slat are oi the center thereof, so that the slat has a normal tendency to tilt rearward. `When the last described tilting movement of the top slat takes Place, the pin 25 strikes the prop 28 and knocks the same oili the pin 29. This releases the pawl 22 and the latter drops down to engage one of the teeth 24 with the pin 25, thereby locking the top slat in the rearwardly inclined position. 'As hereinbefore pointed out, the other slats assume the same position by reason of the iexible connections 11. To return the slats to horizontal position, it is necessary only to give the cord 31 a pull.' The rear end of the top slat then swings upward, the pin 25 riding over the teeth 24. Should the cord be released, backward motion of the top slat will not result as the pin will be held by the last tooth reached. The only way a return movement may be had is by a sudden pull and release of the cord.

By the means herein described the blind slats can be set at any angle to allow the passage of more or less air and light, and they are securely held in adjusted position by the pawl.

The following means are provided for raising and lowering the blind: The two ends 32 and 32a of a cord are fastened to the bottom slat 14, from which latter they pass upward through vertically alined apertures in the slats 10. On the under side of the top slat 13 is a guide eye 33 for the end 32 of the cord, from `which guide eye the cord passes through guide eyes 34. A guide eye 35 is provided :t'or the end 322L of the cord from which it passes through the. eyes 34 with the other portion of the cord. The bight 3G of the cord hangs down in front of the blind, and by pulling thereon, the blind israised, the bottom slat 14 as it rises gathering and bunching the slats 10 in superposed relation and carrying the same toward the top slat 13. l/Vhen the cord is released the slats drop down.

In order to hold the blind at any desired height a gerd clamp is provided, the same comprising a spring-actuated cam lever 37 v mounted on the under side of the top slat 13, opposite a block 38, between which lever and the block the two parts 32 and 32n of the elevating and lowering cord pass. The cam lever normally grips the cord, and upon swinging the same rearward, the cord is released. To the cam lever is connected a line 3.) for swinging the same to release position, said line extending down in front oi the blind. The cam lever may be provided with a housing which is shown dotted at 40 in Fig. 7

The cam lever grips the two cord strands one way only so that there is no resistance when the shade is being raised. The spring of the cam lever causes the latter to press on the cord strands and the only purpose of said lever is to prevent the shade from dropping when the pull cord is released.

We claim: i

1. In a Venetian blind, a top slat having trunnions at its ends off the center of said slat, supports for the trunnions, a pin projecting from one end of the top slat, a toothed pawl pivoted to the trunnion support adjacent to the pin, the teeth on said pawl being arranged in a straight line, the teeth of the pawl being adapted to engage the pin, a pivoted prop carried by the pawl, and a pin carried by the aforesaid support and engageable by the prop to hold the pawl elevated, the prop being disengageable from said pin by the first-mentioned pin into the path of which latter the prop extends. 2. In a Venetian blind, a top slat having trunnions at its ends, supports for the trunnions, a pin projecting from one end of the top slat, a toothed pawl pivoted to the trunnion support adjacent to the pin, the teeth on said pawl being arranged in a straight line, the teeth of the pawl being adapted to engage the pin, a pivoted prop carried by the pawl, and a pin carried by the aforesaid support and engageable by the prop to hold the pawl elevated, the prop being disengageable from said pin by the first-mentioned pin into the path of which latter the prop extends.

3. In a Venetian blind, a top slat having trunnions at its ends off the center of said slat, supports for the trunnions, a pin projeeting from one end of the top slat, a toot-hed pawl pivoted tothe trunnion support adjacent to the pin, the teeth on said pawl being arranged in a straight line, the teeth of the pawl being adapted to engage the pin, said pawl having an incline over which the pin rides when the top slat is swung in one direction,\ said incline being arranged perpendicular to the line of teeth, whereby the pawl is elevated, a pivoted prop carried by the pawl, and a pin carried by the aforesaid support and engageable by the prop to hold the pawl elevated, the prop being disengageable from said pin by the irstmentioned pin into the path of which latter the prop extends.

In testimony whereof we aiz our signatures in presence of two witnesses. ARTHUR O. MALMGREN.

HENRY KLEFFMAN. lVitnesses:

S. J. LEHRER, H. Gr. BATCHELOR. 

